Faculty of Medicine Marked Its 44th Anniversary

On 15 November 2022, a ceremony was held in honour of celebrating 44 years of successful work and development of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka and promoting and awarding 205 graduates of the first cycle of studies.

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, states that the Faculty of Medicine is the largest member of the University by the number of its staff and students, alike.

,,I am satisfied with the fact that the number of students at this faculty has been growing in the last few years. If we analyse the number of students today with the number from 2017, we can see that the number of students at the Faculty of Medicine is growing“, the rector said, adding that the number of students enrolled in the first cycle of studies in the programmes offered at this faculty is by more than 1100 students higher.

As for entering the market, the rector says that this faculty is a unique example that offered its services to the market, which should be a model for all members of the University of Banja Luka.

,,The Faculty of Medicine is a member of the University that publishes the largest number of papers/titles in international reference journals“, he said, reminding that that the journal "Skripta Medica", publisher  of which is the Faculty of Medicine, is now part of the global citation database "Scopus"“.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Ranko Škrbić, PhD, says that this event is an opportunity to award diplomas for the 39th time. As he stated, in the year behind us, the Faculty of Medicine achieved great success in all fields.

,,This year, we are starting with studies in English as well, with about 70 students from India, Turkey and Bangladesh“, Škrbić said and added that they are students at the Study Programme of Medicine.

According to him, there is also great interest in starting studies in dental medicine and pharmacy in English.

Duška Regoda, graduated from the Medicine Study Programme and is the best student of the generation with an average grade of 9.8. As she stated, her wish is to work in cardiology in the future, and to improve the healthcare system of the Republic of Srpska with her knowledge and work.

The ceremony held in the "Banski Dvor" Cultural Center was also attended by Vice-Rector for Material and Human Resources Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development Prof. Miroslav Malinović, PhD, General Secretary of the University Đorđe Markez, MSc, member deans and others.

The University of Banja Luka started the initiative to establish the Faculty of Medicine as early as 1976, with a view to educating university degree experts holding the professional title of doctor of medicine. Preparations lasted almost two years, and the Faculty of Medicine was established on 17 March 1978 by Decision of Banja Luka Municipal Assembly.

Since its establishment, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka has been developing rapidly and has launched new study programmes. Namely, in addition to Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Health Care and Nursing, new study programmes were licensed: Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Radiological Technology, Nursing, Sanitary Engineering, Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Master of Health Studies and a new course of the Master of Health Studies – Child and Youth Mental Health. Thus, the Faculty of Medicine has all three cycles of studies: integrated studies of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy; undergraduate studies of the Health Care and Nursing Study Programme - Nursing, the second cycle of studies - Master of Health Studies, as well as the third cycle of studies - Biomedical Sciences.

In the last few years, the Faculty of Medicine has paid significant attention to the expansion of space, technical equipment and staff training, in order to enable the provision of contemporary expertise.